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Effect of Seasonal Changes on Predictive Model Assessments of Streams Water Quality with Macroinvertebrates
Author(s) -
João Feio Maria,
Reynoldson Trefor B.,
Graça Manuel A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international review of hydrobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 1434-2944
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.200610877
Subject(s) - invertebrate , streams , seasonality , environmental science , ecology , taxonomic rank , water quality , drainage basin , biology , geography , taxon , cartography , computer network , computer science
Abstract In this study we investigate how seasonal variability in aquatic macroinvertebrate communities affects the performance of a predictive model developed to assess environmental quality. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from nine not visibly disturbed sites located in different streams of the Mondego catchment across a full year. Organisms were identified to the lowest practicable taxonomic level and their abundances recorded at three taxonomic levels (order, family and lowest level). The seasonal samples were examined with regard to seasonal variation using three predictive models at order, family and lowest taxonomic level. The models showed increasing effect of seasonal changes across taxonomic levels, from order to the lowest level. When using the current models samples should be taken in the same season as the reference sites were sampled. Furthermore, data from more reference sites should be added to the model in order to encompass sufficient natural variation and allow the use of the model in different seasons. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)